Illuminated pouring spout



Aug. 2, 1949. G. McS. JACKSON ILLUMINATED POURING SPOUT Filed Feb. 18, 1946 aea /"g [Wait JNVENTOR.

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ATTORNEYS Patented Aug. 2, 1949 UNITED STATE s PATENTQQFFICE ILLUMINATED POURING sPoU'r I George McStay ackson, Lake Forest, Application February 18, 194.6, SerialNo. 648,371 a 4 claims. (01. Moe-6.4) I

My invention is concerned with improvements in a bottle pouring spout;

In dispensing beverages like; particularly alcoholic standard quart and one-fifth gallon bottles it is desirable to use a pouring spout for guiding the liquid through a tube, to more accurately control the pouring. Such a'pouring spout will include a bottle stopper portion or plug adapted to be inserted in the neck of the bottle, a tubular passage extending through vthe stopper portion, which passage is bent in an appropriate direction for pouring and a vent to'allow the entrance of air to the bottle to prevent a vacuum holdback of the liquid. I v w It is an object of my invention to provide, in

a bottle pouring spout, a decorative figure, or the like, in addition to the pouring structure and means for automatically illuminating such figure, when the bottle is tipped to a pouring position, to produce an eye-catching effect having advertising and display valueand to aid in illuminating the pouring area. i -i A more specific object of my invention is to incorporate in a pouring spout a decorative figure having a chamber therein provided with a light bulb, a battery and means whereby when the'bottle is tipped tothe pouring position the battery in a tavern, or the beverages from the will contact the bulb and the decorative figure will be illuminated.

. These and other. objects will be apparent from a description of the preferred form of my device which is shown, by way of illustration, in the accompanylng drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is an elevation of my bottle pouring spout in normal vertical position;

Fig. 2 is a rear end view of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a front end view of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a vertical section on the line 4-4 of Fig.

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4; and

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the illuminating mechanism of my device.

In the preferred form of my pouring spout which is shown, by way of illustration, in the drawings, I provide a bottle stopper or cap portion III, a body portion H and a top portion or decorative figure l2.

The stopper portion l0 comprises an inner downwardly projecting plug member l3 adapted to receive a cork sleeve l4 for insertion into the mouth of the bottle to which th device is to be attached, after the cap or cork has been removed from the bottle, and a downwardly directed flange I5 whi'ch'will encircle the top of the bottle. The stopper member l3'isprovided'with a tubular pouring passage I6 which extendsupwardly into the body H of the spout and is bent at a convenient-angle for pouring. A vent I1 is provided extending upwardly through the stopper member I3 and outwardly through the body ii in a direction opposite to the direction of the pouring passage Hi.

The decorative figure I2, which, for the purposes of illustration, is shown as a parrot, is arranged in generallyparallel relation with the discharge endor bent portion l8 of the passage l6 and is provided. with a generally tubula'i compartinent is which extends from a pointadjacent the front Zll of the figure to the rear of the figure.

An-illuminatingmeans, as illustrated inFigs'. 4 to 6,-is7provided in the'chamber l9 and comprises a U -shaped metal cradle member 2| hav-'- ing an aperture22 in the forward leg 23, an electric bulb 24 arranged in screw-threaded relation in the aperture 22, and a battery 25 positioned on thebight portion of the cradle member 2|. When the device is in the normal vertical position, the battery 25' engages the rear leg 26 of the cradle member 2|. In this position the electrical circuit necessary to light the bulb is open because'of the space'between'the contact 21 on the light bulb 24 and the contact 28 on the battery 25; The metal casing of the battery 25, the metal cradle member 2! and the screw-threaded portion of the bulb 24' constitute a closed portion of the electrical circuit. When the pouring spout is tilted by tilting the bottle to a pouring position the battery 25 will slide forwardly on the crade 2| and engage the contacts 21 and 2a to complete the circuit and light the bulb 24.

The illuminating means is removably retained in the chamber l9 by engagement of the top edge of the rear leg 26 of the cradle 2| in a small recess 29 in the upper wall of the compartment ill at the rear end of the figure l2. The leg 26 of cradle member 2| is provided with a O-shaped slot 3th to accommodate a key for engaging the leg 25 and pulling the cradle 2| out of the chamher Is for replacement of worn out battery or bulb. The bight portion of the cradle 2| may be shaped to provide a longitudinal groove 3| for guiding the battery 25 in its movement on the cradle.

My pouring device may be molded of a clear plastic material, preferably alcohol proof, and its surface painted or supplied in any other manner with a decorative design or advertising material such as a'trade name. In the device which is 3 illustrated the figure, of course, would be painted with the proper colors to indicate a parrot,

In using my pouring spout, when the bottle is tilted to pour the liquid through the passage I6, the battery 25 will slide forward and complete the circuit to light the bulb 24. A portion of the light from the bulb 24 will be directed forwardly through the front 20 of the figure I2 and will serve to illuminate the glass or other receptacle'into which the liquid is being poured. Some of the light 'from the bulb 24 will be directed rearwardly and will illuminate the body of the figure. The structure is so arranged that, when the beverage is poured, the figureis illuminated to call attention to any advertising matter, or trade name, which may be placed on any part of the pouring spout.

While I have described the preferred form of my device referring to specific details of construction and materials,.it will be understood that other details of construction and other materials may be resorted to within the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. An illuminated pouring spout having a bottle stopper portion provided with a pouring passage and a decorative figure portion provided with an internal chamber which is arranged at an angle to the vertical axis of the spout when the spout is in a vertical non-pouring position on a bottle, a U-shaped cradle member, arranged in said internal chamber with its legs extending transversely of said chamber, a bulb secured in the upper leg of said U-shaped cradle member and a battery positioned in movable relation on the bight portion of said U-shaped cradle member, whereby when the pouring spout is tilted to pouring position said battery will move relative to said cradle and contact said bulb to illuminate said figure portion and project rays of light I in a direction substantially parallel with and outwardly of the pouring passage.

2. An illuminated pouring spout having a portion provided with a pouring passage and a portion provided with a decorative figure having an internal chamber which is arranged at an angle to the vertical axis of the spout when the spout is in a vertical non-pouring position, said chamber being open at the bottom end, an elongated U-shaped cradle member, removably positioned in said chamber, one leg of said U-shaped member forming a closure for the open end of said chamber, a bulb secured in the other le of said U-shaped cradle member and a battery positioned in sliding relation on the bight portion of said U-shaped cradle member, whereby when the pouring spout is tilted to pouring position said battery will slide on said cradle into contact with said bulb to light the bulb and illuminate the decorative figure.

3. A pouring spout as set out in claim 2 wherein said internal chamber is so arranged as to cause the bulb to direct the light primarily in the same general direction as the pouring passage.

4. An illuminated pouring spout comprising a bottle stopper forming portion and an integral decorative figure portion, said pouring spout being provided with a pouring passage which passage extends vertically of the stopper portion and then at an angle through the figure portion when the pouring spout is in normal position on the bottle, said figure portion being provided with a chamber which extends generally parallel to the angled portion of the pouring passage, and which terminates short of the top end of said figure portion, said chamber having its lower end open, a U-shaped metal cradle member removably positioned in said chamber, with its legs extending transversely of said chamber and the lower leg forming a closure for said chamber, an electric bulb supported in the upper leg of said cradle member, a battery positioned on said cradle so that when the spout is tilted to pouring position the forward end of said battery will move into contact with said bulb to light said bulb and illuminate the figured portion of said spout.

GEORGE McSTAY JACKSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 

